Flying-machine.



J. B. SUMNER & R. W. HICKING.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. ms.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEETI ATTORNEY v J. B. SUMNER & R. W. HICKING.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE'D MAR- I3. I918.

1,292,662. Patented J an. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z A7 INVLNTORS ATTOR N EY JOHN B. SUMNER AND RICHARD W. HICKING,

OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed March 18, 1918. Serial No. 222,179.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN B. SUMNER and RICHARD 1V. HICKING, citizens of the United States, residing at \Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a flying machine of the heavier-than-air type built on the parachute principle.

A articular object of the invention is to provlde means associated with the parachute employed which is operable to ncrease or diminish the air-resisting surface as desired and to preferably employ such means in the form of independently operable auxiliary planes having control means for their operation dis osed adjacent the aeronauts seat.

A furt er desideratum is to provide a generally improved construction, specifically improved in the particulars which will be hereinafter pointed out in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating one preferred embodiment, and wherein Figure 1 is aside elevation partly broken away, of a flying machlne constructed in accordance with my invention;

' and the pintles of the Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,'and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-.3 Of 1- Referring specifically to the drawings, a to of umbrella or parachute form is provi edat 5 which has a plurality of independlanes 6 secured to ent segmental auxiliary from its edge.

and extending outwar y The parachute and planes may be made 0 any desired material, for instance, canvas or other cloth, and be reinforced by aluminum, other metallic or wooden stays. Hinges 7 secure the auxiliary planes to the parachute hinges of each auxiliary plane aline so that the auxiliary planes may swing.

Depending from the parachute and fastened thereto as a suitable number of struts 8 of wood, light metal or other suitable material. Four of these struts may be employed as shown in the drawings and e disposed to taper inwardly as shown in Fig. 1, at their bases where they are suitably secured to a platform 9. The operators seat 10 is supported from this latform.

A shelf 11 is suitably secured to the struts shaft'16 mounte as an speci 0 type is not within the province of f chute 5 in effect,

- lanes may visable as it may and it serves as the support for an engine 12 wh ch drives a propeller 13, keyed to its maln shaft, in a horizontal plane. Said shaft extends through and below the shelf and is there provided with a bevel gear wheel 14 which meshes with a bevel gear wheel 15. The gear wheel 15 is keyed to a horizontally in bearings 17 depending from shelf 11. A propeller 18 is fzistened to shaft 16 and rotates in a vertical ane.

At 19, a rudder is provided which swings horizontally and is operated in any conven lent manner in the well known way which is unnecessary to here set forth as it forms no part of the invention. The control or operating means of the engine also has not shown suitable type may be used, and the this invention.

Planes 6 are operated in a suitable manner, preferably by a means operable from the seat 10. 0 this end, bars 19' are fastened to the auxiliary planes, which have an eyelet 20 at each end. Cords 21 have their terminals fastened to the eyelets and the cords in some instances passing over guide pulleys 21 on the struts and all over suitable drums or pulleys 22 keyed to shafts 23 and journaled inbrackets 24 fastened to the struts. Levers 25 are fixed to shafts 23 and extend on opposite sides of and adjacent the operators seat.

In operation, through power derived from the engine, propeller 13 ifts or elevates the machine while the propeller 18 drives it forward; As the machine ascends, the araclimbs the air an the planes 6 may be extended to add to the air resisting" surface of the parachute. These also be adjusted inwardly durmg descending so as to offer less reslstance to the air. These planes 6 are shifted through operation of the levers 25 which turn the drums 22, shift the cords 21 and accordingly vary the angle of the auxiliary planes. It will be noted that these planes are adjustable independently. This 1s adbecome necessary during flight to right the machine. The rudder is operated in an suitable manner for steering purposes in the usual way.

Since merely the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to Within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a flyin machine, a parachute, struts rigid with an depending from the parachute, propeller means mounted from the struts, a prime mover, auxiliary planes without the parachute and frame, said auxiliary planes being pivoted to the parachute substantially at its marginal edge, and means connected to the auxiliary planes and to the struts operable to vary the positions of the auxiliary planes.

2; In a flying machine, a parachute, strutsdepending therefrom, a platform secured to said struts, a seat on said platform, a shelf secured to said struts a plurality of auxiliary lanes pivoted adjacent the edge of the parac ute, flexible members having theirten meaeea minals spaced apartand secured to the auxiliary planes, brackets secured to the struts, drums mounted in said brackets, levers to turn said drums disposed adjacent the seat, a prime mover mounted on said shelf, a horizontally movable propeller. driven by said prime mover, the main shaft of the engine extending through the shelf, bearings depending from the shelf, a shaft journaled in said bearings, earing'to drive said shaft from the main sfiaft, and a propeller fastened to the second mentioned shaft operable in a vertical plane.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN B. SUMNER. RICHARD W. HIOKING. Witnesses:

1: -na'r F. WINN, Josnrn ST. J oHN. 

